Mobile storage and displaying arrangement for pictorial art

ABSTRACT

A mobile storing and displaying arrangement for pictorial art comprising an elongate enclosed vehicle body that may be of the semi-trailer type having a partition mounted therein adjacent to but spaced from the rear end of same to form a viewing room that is equipped for air conditioned comfort of the persons entering the rear of the vehicle to view the pictorial art stored in the vehicle forwardly of the partition. The art is removably applied to discrete display and storage panels located forwardly of the partition that extend transversely of the vehicle and move in a continuous circuit longitudinally of the vehicle between upper and lower runs for display through a window formed in the partition. The movement is intermittent to bring a panel into viewing relation with the partition window, stop movement for a predetermined time interval, and then replace the panel with another having another selection of pictorial art applied thereto. In such a manner the entire collection may be viewed without removing any from storage or the viewers having to leave the vehicle viewing room.

[ Apr. 29, 1975 Primary E.\aminerRobert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-A.Heinz Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Mann, Brown, McWilliams & Bradway [57]ABSTRACT A mobile storing and displaying arrangement for pictorial artcomprising an elongate enclosed vehicle body that may be of thesemi-trailer type having a partition mounted therein adjacent to butspaced from the rear end of same to form a viewing room that is equippedfor air conditioned comfort of the persons entering the rear of thevehicle to view the pictorial art stored in the vehicle forwardly of thepartition. The art is removably applied to discrete display and storagepanels located forwardly of the partition that extend transversely ofthe vehicle and move in a con- MOBILE STORAGE AND DISPLAYING ARRANGEMENTFOR PICTORIAL ART Inventor: Joseph E. McWilliams, 1345 Canterbury Ln.,Glenview, 111. 60025 22] Filed: Apr. 11, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 350,037

Field of Search........., 40/32, 36, 43, 78.07, 40/78.09, 96.99, 152.1,140, 142, 106.1; 21/74 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS UnitedStates Patent McWilliams without removing any from storage or theviewers having to leave the vehicle viewing room.

1 Claim, 16 Drawing Figures 3 tinuous circuit longitudinally of thevehicle between upper and lower runs for display through a window formedin the partition. The movement is intermittent to bring a panel intoviewing relation with the parti- 40/35 F1011 window, stop movement for apredetermined time (O/152.1 interval, and then replace the panel withanother hav- 40/78 09 ing another selection of pictorial art appliedthereto. In such a manner the entire collection mav be viewed titi it itl t Str0mer...... Roth Martin Quillin ct a1... Bodde........i...Teich.......... Riley et a1. Bohanon FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 7-3 9 m 5 6-l6 930 7 -3-6 37-3007 7 44 Q 0694 PATENTEUAPRZQIHYS minimum ow QM m am om q N UE q m mm om m #0 qm Om PATENTEB 2 3,879,871. sum 3 pfY .1 j F"IG.7A

PATENTEDAPR29i9Y5 SHEET 0% 7 QUE PATENTEDAPRZQIBYB 3,879,871

' sumso y FIGJZ MOBILE STORAGE AND DISPLAYING ARRANGEMENT FOR PICTORIALART This invention relates to a mobile storage and display arrangementfor pictorial art, and more particularly, to a vehicle arranged toprovide a viewing sitting room for customers and an art storagearrangement devised for convenient customer inspection and selection,from the viewing room, of the pictures and the like offered for sale,without having to remove the individual pieces of art from storage.

In recent years the domestic demand for good quality oil paintings andthe like pictorial art, particularly from Europe, has moved away fromthe cities, but tradition ally, one has had to go to a metropolitaincenter of some size to find a reasonable collection of paintings tochoose from. However, the Applicant is aware of the fact that a goodmarket exists in many rural areas for things of this type, if there werea convenient way to bring to this potential market a good selection ofpictorial art that could be conveniently moved from place to place andyet displayed to good advantage for customer viewing.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a mobile storage anddisplaying arrangement for paintings and the like that incorporates inthe same vehicle the pictorial works offered for sale, the viewing roomfrom which customers can view the art without removing the latter fromstorage, and a conveyor system in which the art is stored that isarranged to move the art selections to and from a viewing window fordisplaying the art to customers.

Another principal object of the invention is to provide a mobilepainting, storage and displaying arrangement in the form of a highwayvehicle equipped to provide a comfortable art viewing room from whichcustomers may view the art selections available through a viewing windowthrough which the art selections as stored are presented for customerselection.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a vehiclecarried conveyor system equipped with art supporting panels arranged forconvenient application to and removal from of paintings and the likerelative to the panels, as well as for convenient display of the art tocustomers, to provide a pictorial art merchandising tool that makes itfeasible to bring well rounded selections to rural and other outlyingareas, and to provide a mobile storage and displaying arrangement forpaintings and the like that is inexpensive of manufacture, convenient touse, and long lived and efficient in operation.

In accordance with this invention, a highway vehicle such as one of thefamiliar semi-trailer type, is equipped to store and display pictorialworks. The vehicle body at its rear end is formed to provide acomfortable viewing room, access to which is had through the rear end ofthe vehicle, with the viewing room being defined in part by a vehiclebody transverse partition that' is formed to define a viewing window.The art is removably applied to panels that are mounted to move in anendless circuit rearwardly and forwardly of the vehicle, along upper andlower circuit runs, for presentation of an art bearing panel to theviewing window, and after adequate time delay has been had for viewingpurposes, removal thereof from and presentation of a following panel tothe viewing window, effected by moving the panel sequentially andconsecutively about the circuit.

The vehicle is arranged for air conditioned comfort of the customers inthe viewing room and ambient air control of the space in which the artis stored for full protection of same. Several specific conveyorarrangements for movably storing the art are disclosed.

Other objects, uses, and advantages will be obvious or become apparentfrom a consideration of the following detailed description and theapplication drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the vehicle embodying thisinvention, with the sides of the vehicle being broken away to illustratethe general arrangements of the interior of the vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1, partially shown insection;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the rear of the vehicle, with thevehicle rear wall and end doors omitted;

FIG. 4 is a fragmental view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG.2, with parts being broken away, illustrating the general arrangement ofthe art storing panels and the manner of supporting same in theembodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmental sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, takensubstantially along line 66 of FIG. 5, with parts broken away;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of one of the elevator devicesemployed in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, with partsbroken away, FIG. 2A being approximately along line 7'7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7A is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 7 together withassociated parts of the vehicle being shown in section;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but illustrating a modifiedform of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but illustrating the form ofthe invention shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmental view on an enlarged scale of the panelsupporting conveyor arrangement shown in FIG. 8, with the end of theconveyor shown at the right hand end of FIG. 8 being illustrated;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 11 takenfrom the right hand side of FIG. 11;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, but showing the embodimentof FIGS. 8-40;

FIG. 13 is a fragmental view illustrating a specific form of pictorialart mounting panel and clamping devices therefor, in accordance withthis invention;

FIG. 14 is a fragmental sectional view along line 14-l4 of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a fragmental elevational view of one of the vertical sides ofthe painting frame with the frame mounting strip shown in section.

However, it is to be understood that the specific drawing illustrationsprovided are supplied primarily to comply with the requirements of thePatent Laws, and that the invention may have other embodiments that willbe obvious to those skilled in the art.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Reference numer 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 generallyindicates one embodiment of the mobile storage and display arrangementof this invention comprising vehicle 12 which for purposes ofillustration is shown as being of the familiar semi-trailer type'defining vehicle body 14 including a suitable top or ceiling 16, sidewalls 18 and 20, forward wall 22, floor 24, and rear wall 26 providedwith a suitable access opening 28 closed by suitable doors 30. Thevehicle is equipped with a suitable folding stairway 31 of a suitabletype that may be folded up and stored until needed, and then erected toprovide access to doors 30.

The vehicle body defines interior space 32 which is subdivided by asuitable transversely extending partition 34 into a storage room orspace 36 and a viewing room or space 38, which in accordance with thisinvention is suitably equipped with chairs 40, side seats 42, and atable 44, or the like, for comfortable accommodation of customerspresent in the room 38 to view the art selections available in thevehicle 12.

In accordance with this invention, the vehicle 12 serves as a mobilestorage and display arrangement for oil paintings and the like,generally indicated by reference numeral 46, which have been acquired tomarkets abroad and removably applied to storage panels 48 that aremounted to move about an endless circuit 50, within the storage space orroom 36, which circuit 50 defines an upper run 52 and a lower run 54.The partition 34 is formed with a window opening 56 that is verticallyand horizontally aligned with the panels 48 as they move along thecircuit run 52 so that the panel 48 that is at the right hand end of thecircuit room 52 is visible through the window opening 56 (see FIG. 3).

The circuit 50 is in the form of a panel conveyor apparatus orarrangement 58 which effects movement of the panels 48 in the directionof the partition 34, along circuit run 52, in an intermittent manner,with the end panel 48 being visible through the window opening 56 todisplay its pictorial art items 46 a predetermined time delay, afterwhich such end panel 48 is lowered to alignment with the circuit run 54to expose the next succeeding panel 48 and the pictorial art it carriesfor viewing from the room or space 38. The lowered panel 48, inaccordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, remains visible throughanother window opening 60 that is formed in partition 34 below thewindow opening 56. After the predetermined time delay has passed, thepanel 48 that is visible through the lower window 60 is moved forwardlyof the vehicle 12 to move the entire set of panels 48 in the lowercircuit run 54 for wardly of the vehicle to position the end panel 48 atthe front end of the vehicle for elevation into alignment with the uppercircuit run 52, whereupon such newly elevated panel is pushed rearwardlyof the vehicle to move the panel that is visible through the windowopening 56 rearwardly for prepositioning to be lowered for alignmentwith the window opening 60.

The conveyor apparatus 58 is preferably operated from convenient off-oncontrols 62 (see FIG. 2) located in the viewing room 38, which controlsmay be of the push button type, so that the proprietor, who would besitting or standing near the control 62, may stop or start the conveyor58, depending upon the customers desires.

The pictorial items 46 are suitably removably secured to the panels 48so that they can be readily removed through one of the window openings56 or 60 as the customers make their selections. Similarly, replacementpictorial items are reapplied to the panels 46 through one of the windowopenings 56 and 60' when the proprietor wishes to replenish his supplyof pictorial items 46.

In the embodiment 10A of FIGS. 8-10, the vehicle 12A is the same asvehicle 12 of FIGS. 1 and 2, the panels 46 being incorporated in thecircuit 50A comprising a conveyor arrangement 58A that includes a pairof drive chains on either side of the vehicle trained over suitablesprockets 72 and powered by a suitable drive mechanism 74 to move aboutthe circuit 50A. As indicated in FIG. 8, the arrangement of conveyor 58Ais such that panels 46 are inverted as they pass between the upper andlower circuit runs so only the single upper viewing window opening 56Ais formed in the partition 34A, although the window opening 56 isbrought down sufficiently to the floor level of the vehicle so that theproprietor can easily step through same to remove the pieces of art workthe customer desires from a particular panel 46 (this also beingnecessary by reason of the space required for the partitions 46 to swingfrom the upper to the lower run of the circuit 50A).

It will thus be seen that the invention provides a convenientarrangement for both storing and viewing pictorial items such as goodpaintings and the like that permits a collection of these items to betransported to rural and other outlying areas where the proprietor canpark the vehicle at any convenient place and invite potential customersto view his selections. The vehicle is equipped with suitable airconditioning, humidifying, and heating equipment, and the like, toinsure customer comfort in room 38 as well as the maintenance ofadequate ambient air standards in the storage room 36 for bestpreservation of the pictorial items there stored. The customers can viewthe selections from storage, and where the customer makes a selection,it can be readily removed from one of its supporting panels for sale tothe customer.

Replenishment of the art items 46 is easy as it can be done through theviewing windows of the viewing room, where the proprietor hastransported his vehicle to some suitable central storage area forpictorial art items to be sold.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION The vehicle 12 in practice may be of any suitabletype, although the conventional semi-trailer type highway vehicle iswell adapted to serve the purposes of the invention. The interior of thevehicle 12 in the area of viewing room 38 needs to be tastefullydecorated for customer pleasure and comfort, and the conventional endopening is closed by a suitable rear wall 26 provided with suitabledoors 30 which close access opening 28 that is approached by employing asuitable folding stairway 31. Viewing room may be equipped with one ormore spot lights 33 to facilitate viewing.

In the form shown, the doors 30 are of the twin swinging door type whichmay be suitably closed and latched for purposes of closing off the rearend of the vehicle 12 for purposes of moving it from place to place.Similarly, it is preferable to have doors 30 arranged to be closed inlocales where it is important to have the viewing room 38 airconditioned or heated, depending on the time of year.

Stairway 31 in the form shown comprises a platform section 71 havinghinged thereto, by suitable hinges 73, a stairway section 75 havingrailing 77 removably applied thereto. Sections 71 are preferablyslidably mounted in a suitable cavity or chamber in the vehicle bodyfloor, or underframe for storage therein by removing railing 77 andswinging section to a horizontal position and then pushing same into itsstorage cavity; stairway 31 is pulled out for use, section 75 beinglowered to the ground, and removable railing 77 applied thereto. Railing77 may be stored inside the vehicle body when same is being transported.

The vehicle 12 being of the semi-trailer type, includes suitable rearwheels 82 and kingpin 84 adapted to cooperate with the familiar fifthwheel of the truck tractor that transports the vehicle 12. The vehicle12 also includes conventional retractable supports 86 for supporting thevehicle when disconnected from the truck tractor. The heating andcooling equipment may be located where indicated at 88, referencenumeral 89 indicating a supply tank for the heating equipment employed.At the forward end of the vehicle, body 12 is provided with access door91.

The conveyor apparatus 58 comprises upper opposed channels 90 and loweropposed channels 92 that support the panels 48 on either side of thevehicle and guide them for movement along the circuit runs 52 and 54. Inthe form shown, the channels 90 and 92 are affixed to upright framemembers 94 that are of channel configuration and suitably affixed to therespective vehicle side walls 18 and 20.

The individual panels 48, which are of general quadrilateralconfiguration, extend transversely of the vehicle and between theopposed pairs of channel members 90 and 92 in the respective runs of thecircuit. Each panel 48, which may be formed from plywood or somesuitable composition material, having the art work bearing surface 96 ofsame (that faces the viewing room 38) suitably painted or otherwise madepleasing to sight and neutral in color. The panels define top and bottomedges 98 and 100 and side edges 102.

The sides 102 of each panel 48 have affixed thereto a bracket structure104 comprising a U-shaped base element 106 that is fixed thereto bysuitable rivets 108. The base element 106 defines spaced flanges 110between which the panel is received and a web 112 that has affixedthereto, as by welding, a bumper member 113 in the form of a bracket arm115 journaling a pair of spaced rollers 116, and having its ends 118 and120 disposed at right angles thereto.

As indicated in FIGS. 4 6, the panels of the upper circuit run 52 areproportioned so that the rollers 116 carried thereby ride in therespective channel members 90, which each form a trackway 122 for therespective rollers 116. Channel members 92 are similarly arranged todefine corresponding trackways 124 (see FIG. 6).

The panels 48 are all identical and each have the pictorial art items 46releasably secured thereto in a manner consistent with this invention,as by having conventional brackets removably secured to the pictureframes involved that are in turn secured to the respective panel byscrews or the like.

The panels 48 received in the respective circuit runs have their rollers116 applied to the respective trackways 122 and 124, with the elements114 of bracket structures 104 in end to end relation. The ends 118 and120 of the elements 114 serve as bumpers for the respective elements114.

The conveyor 58 at the forward end of the vehicle is equipped with anelevator apparatus for shifting individual panels 48 from the lower run54 of the circuit 50 to the upper run 52, while at the rear end of theconveyor, adjacent the partition 34, the conveyor 58 is equipped with asimilar elevator apparatus 132 for lowering the panel 48 that appears atthe window opening 56, and that is at the end of circuit run 52, down tothe level of circuit run 54.

The elevators 130 and 132 are similar, and each comprises a pair ofelevator devices 134 and 136 that are similar in construction and arediagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 7A illustrating the device134 (it is to be understood that the description of the device 134applies also to device 136).

The device 134 comprises a trolley 140 comprising a pair of spaced apartplates 142 and 144 (see FIG. 7A) suitably affixed together in spacedapart relation to receive a guide tube 146 that is suitably affixedbetween the floor and ceiling of the vehicle, and also journalingsuitable rollers 148 that ride on the guide post 146. As indicated inFIG. 7A, the guide post 146 is of quadrilateral cross-sectionalconfiguration and defines side surfaces 150 and 152 on which therespective rollers 148 ride.

The trolley 140 has fixed to its side plate 142 channel member 154 whichis of the same transverse crosssectional configuration as channelmembers 90 and 92, so that when the trolley 140 is positioned inalignment with channel members 90 and 92 on the side of the vehicleserved by the device 134, the rollers 114 of the respective panels 48will ride into and out of the member 154 in the same manner that theyride in the respective trackways 122 and 124. As indicated in FIGS. 7and 7A, the members 90, 92 and 154 have their respective ends 156 and158 proportioned so that when the member 154 is aligned with either ofthe channel members 90 or 92, they will be in substantial abuttingarrangement for smooth transfer therebetween of the respective panels48.

The trolley 140 is moved vertically by power device 160 which comprisesan elongated hydraulic cylinder 162 having piston 164 reciprocablymounted therein and having a cable 166 secured thereto, at its end 168,for extending outwardly of the hydraulic cylinder and over pulley 170for application to one arm 172 of U- shaped mounting bracket 174 that isfixed to the trolley 140. Cable 166 has its end 178 suitably secured tothe other side of piston 164 for training over pulley 180 and securementat its end 182 to the other arm 184 of bracket 174.

The pulleys 170 and 180 are suitably journaled on the respectivemounting arms 186 and 188 that are suitably affixed to the guide post146 above and below the path of movement of the trolley 140.

The power device 162 per se is of a commerically available type, and byactuating the piston 164 to move longitudinally of the hydrauliccylinder 162, the trolley 140 is moved vertically, either upwardly ordownwardly, under the control of the operator.

In accordance with this invention, the power devices 160 of therespective elevators 134 and 136 are incorporated in suitable hydrauliccircuiting so that the trolleys 140 of the devices 134 and 136 at bothends of the conveyor 58 simultaneously and in synchronism move eitherupwardly or downwardly. Thus, the operation of the apparatus is suchthat when one of the trolleys 140 is in alignment with the trackway 122it services, the rest of the trolleys 140 are similarly aligned with thetrackways they service. Similar remarks apply to the trackways 124 ofthe channel members 92.

The trolleys 140 also each have affixed thereto in alignment with therespective channel members 154 a hydraulic power device 190 comprising ahydraulic cylinder 192 having a piston reciprocably mounted therein (notshown) operably connected to piston rod 194 having pusher plate 196affixed thereto for cooperation with the respective bumpers 118 and 120of the respective panel bracket structures 104. The elevator devices 134and 136 at the forward end of the conveyor 58 cooperate with the bumpers120, while the elevator devices 134 and 136 at the rearward end of theconveyor cooperate with the bumpers 118.

The function of the power device 190 is to push a panel 48, that issuspended between the channel members 154 of a pair of cooperatingelevator devices 134 and 136 (of, for instance elevator 132), away fromthe trolleys 140 carrying same, when the latter are aligned with one ofthe trackways 122 or 124, and out of the channel members 154 theretoonto the respective trackways, as will be described in detailhereinafter.

The guide post 46 is equipped with a pair of opposed limit switches 200and 202 which are respectively equipped with spring biased plungers 204and 206 that are engaged by the respective stop plates 208 and 210 ofthe trolley 140 for the purposes of defining the upper and lower limitsof movement of the trolley 140. The limit switches 200 and 202 arepreferably suitably mounted on the guide posts for adjustmentlongitudinally thereof (not shown) so that they operate to stop verticalmovement of the trolley 140 when same is accurately aligned with eithera trackway 122 or a trackway 124.

The power devices 160 and 190 are suitably incorporated in suitablehydraulic circuiting so that once the conveyor is turned on, theyfunction automatically under the off-on control of the operator havingaccess to push button control 62. For this purpose the vehicle 12 isequipped with a suitable hydraulic power unit 214, provided with asuitable source of hydraulic pressure liquid, motor 216, and pump 218for supplying hydraulic pressure liquid to the respective power devices160 and 190 under the control of suitable four way control valves fordouble acting hydraulic mechanisms of the type represented by hydrauliccylinders 162 and 192. Such control valves are incorporated in suitablehydraulic circuiting arranged to operate automatically once thehydraulic power unit is turned on, motor 216 being run by a bank ofbatteries indicated at 220 electrically connected with suitable batteryrecharger 222 that in turn may be connected to an outside source ofpower when necessary or desirable to recharge the operating batteries.

The guide posts 146 also each mount a pair of panel stop devices 228 and230 for the purpose of precluding movement of the end panels 48 out ofthe trackways 122 and 124 when the trolleys 140 are not blocking theends thereof.

The devices 228 and 230 each comprise a suitable housing 232 mountinglatch bar 234 that is outwardly spring biased by suitable compressionspring 236 and that carries a stop pin 238 operating in a slot 240formed in the housing 232 to limit the projection of the latch bar 234from the housing to about the extent indicated in FIG. 7 when thetrolley is not adjacent same.

The latch bars 234 for each pair of stop devices 228 and 230 of therespective elevator devices 134 and 136, are disposed in verticalalignment, and in vertical alignment with, the ends 158 of therespective channel members 154 for engagement therewith when therespective channel members 154 are aligned with the channel members or92. When the trolleys are moved to position their channel members 154 inalignment with, for instance, the channel members 90, the latch bar 234of devices 228 are moved (by the respective members 154) out of the wayfor transmittal between the channel members 154 and 90, of the panel 48that is carried by the trolleys 140 (in this particular case, at theforward or left hand end of the conveyor 58).

However, as indicated in FIG. 7, when the trolleys 140 move away fromchannel member 90, the latch bars 234 fully extend under the action oftheir springs 236, into the path of movement of the bumpers 118 and 120,to hold the panels 48 against undesirable discharge from the open endsof the trackways 122. Similar remarks apply to the cooperation withchannel members 92.

When the trolleys 140 are positioned in the dashed line position of FIG.7, a similar action is provided with regard to channel members 92, theirtrackways 124, and stop devices 230.

Assuming that the trackways 122 and 124 have been supplied with anadequate number of panels 48 so that the panels 148 have their bumpermembers 113 in engagement for the lengths of channel members 90 and 92along both runs of the circuit 50 (and thus there should be enoughpanels 48 and their abutting bumper members 113 on both trackways 122and 124 so that the trackways 122 and 124, which are of equal length,are completely filled by the panels 48 and their associated bumpermembers 113), and a single panel member 48 is applied to the elevatordevices 134 and 136 at the forward end of conveyor 58, when the conveyor58 is turned on, the operation is as follows:

The hydraulic circuiting involved and controls therefor operate tosimultaneously and synchronously position the trolleys 140 in alignmentwith the respective ends of the channel members 90 for applicationthereto of the panel 48 that is carried by the elevator devices 134 and136 at the forward end 58 of the conveyor. Of course, the channel member154 at the other end of the conveyor (the end adjacent viewing room 38)are empty for receiving the panel 48 that is being viewed through windowopening 56. After a suitable time delay for viewing the panel 48 that isbeing observed through the window opening 56, power devices operate tomove the panel 48 carried by the trolleys 140 at the left hand end ofthe conveyor 58 onto the ends 156 of channel members 90, thus moving thepusher plates 196 from the dashed line position of FIG. 7 to the fullline position thereof, and moving ahead of the panel 48 being pushed,the panels 48 that are ahead of same along the trackways 122. This willresult in the panel 48 that is being viewed through window opening 56being applied to the channel members 154 at the right hand end ofconveyor 58.

When piston rods 194 are retracted to the dashed line position of theupper portion of FIG. 7, trolleys 140 are simultaneously andsynchronously lowered to the dashed line position of FIG. 7, with thelatch bars 234 of the upper latch devices 228 moving outwardly anddownwardly to block escape of the end panels 48 from' the ends 156 ofthe channel members 90. As the trolleys 140 move to the lower positionshown in FIG. 7,

the lower latch bars 234 are retracted by the trolley channel members154 and the lower limit switches 202 stop downward movement of thetrolleys when they are suitably aligned with the trackways 124.

The trolleys 140 at the right hand end of the conveyor 58 are thuscarrying the panel 48 to be applied to the trackways 124, and powerdevices 190 of the elevator devices 134 and 136 at the right hand end ofthe conveyor 58 operate to push such panel and in particular, its bumpermembers 113, into the trackways 124, thereby pushing the panel 48 thatis at the other end of the trackways 124 into the waiting channelmembers 154 at that end of the conveyor.

The power devices 160 then function to return the trolleys 140simultaneously and synchronously to the upper position for repetition ofoperation of the power devices 190 at the left hand end of the conveyorto the trackways 122.

The operation of the conveyor 58 automatically repeats itself as long asdesired, with the operator operating off-on control 62 to stop operationof the conveyor when a customer wishes to view a particular item oritems applied to a particular panel 48 then visible at either windowopening 56 or 60.

Should a customer wish one or more of the pictorial items 46, theproprietor can reach through the window openings 56 and 60 to removethem for sale to the customer. The time delays between intermittentmovement of the panels may be of a duration suitable for art viewingpurposes, and interposed in the operation of the circuit as desired. Thetime delay involved in moving the trolleys between trackways 122 and 124may be adequate for most purposes.

Referring now to the embodiment 10A of FIGS. 8 10, the channel members90A are in closely spaced relation to the channel members 92A at therespective sides of the vehicle, the respective channel members 90A, 92Abeing suitably affixed to vertical support members 94A suitably mountedwithin the vehicle 12A (the vehicle 12A is the same in basicconstruction insofar as the vehicle is concerned as vehicle 12).

The sprockets 72 are suitably keyed to the respective stub shafts 250that are journaled in suitable bearings mounted on the side walls of thevehicle. The bearings 252 at the rearward end of conveyor 58 arepreferably of the take up type for tensioning chains 70, while thebearings 254 at the forward end of conveyor 58A are of the conventionalnon-take up type.

The panels 48A may be formed of the same material as panels 48, and atthe juncture of their side edges 102A with an end edge 100, the panelshave applied to either side of same a bracket structure 104A comprisinga U-shaped member 260 defining flanges 262 that receive the panel andthat are affixed thereto by suitable rivets 264, and a web 266 which hasaffixed thereto bracket arm 268 having its respective ends 270 and 272formed to receive the pins 274 of drive chain 70.

The drive chains 70 each comprise pairs of links 275 and 277 articulatedtogether by pins 274 and pins 276. Pins 274 are in pairs lengthwise ofthe drive chain 70 and are longer than the pins 276 for extendingthrough the respective ends of the bracket arms 268, as indicated inFIGS. 10 and l l. The bracket arms 268 of panels 48A are applied to thedrive chain 70 in spaced relation, and in such a manner that there is apin 274 applied to either end of the bracket arm 268 and a pin 276 isdisposed in between such pins 274. The ends 270 of the respectivebracket arms 268 are formed with rounded openings to receive one of thesuch pins 274, while the other such pin 274 for the bracket member 268is received in a slotted opening 279 formed in the bracket member end272 to provide for the lost motion necessary as the panels 248 are swungfrom the upper run to the lower run of the conveyor in the mannerindicated in FIG. 10.

As indicated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the drive chain pins 274 and 276 eachjournal a roller 280, which rollers 280 ride in the respective trackways122A and 124A defined by the respective channel members A and 92A.

At the forward end of the conveyor 58A, one of the stub shafts 250 haskeyed thereto suitable pulley 282 that is driven by pulley belt 284 frompulley 286 driven by suitable drive gear motor 288 that may be poweredby the set of batteries indicated at 290 arranged for recharging bysuitable recharger 292 and may be suitably connected to an outsidesource of power for recharging purposes at the appropriate time.

The embodiment of FIGS. 8 10 is of a simplified nature, but does nothave the storage capacity as the embodiment of FIGS. 1 7 due to the factthat the panels 46A are swung substantially about the axes of therespective sprockets 72 in being moved between the upper and lower runsof the conveyor. The panels 46A stand upright when moving along theupper run of the conveyor and are suspended in inverted verticalposition when moving along the lower run of the conveyor.

The operation of the conveyor 58A may be controlled in a manner similarto that for the conveyor 58, to provide intermittent movement ofconveyor 58A (with a suitable time lapse between periods of movement) toswing a leading panel 48 that is in viewing position out of the way ofthe next succeeding panel 48, with the operator (who may be theproprietor) using the control 62A located in the viewing room or space38A for off-on control purposes. When the conveyor 58A is operating, thepanels 46A move to the right along the upper run 52A of the conveyoruntil they reach the right hand end sprockets 72, whereupon they swingdownwardly and move into the lower run of the conveyor for return to theleft hand end of the conveyor, whereupon they are returned to the upperrun of the conveyor in a similar manner. The swinging of the end panel46A at the right hand end of the upper run downwardly exposes the nextpanel 46A for viewing from viewing room or space 38A, with thearrangement being such that when the panel 46A that is being lowered tothe lower run of the conveyor is substantially horizontally disposed,the panel 46A next following is fully exposed through window opening56A. The operator may stop the conveyor at any position where thecustomer wishes to spend additional time in studying a particular itemor items applied to a particular panel 48A visible through the windowopening 56A.

Vehicle 12A is equipped with suitable spot lights 33, and its viewingroom 38A is equipped in a manner similar to room 38. Similar parts ofvehicles 12 and 12A are indicated by similar reference numerals.

It is preferred that both conveyors by arranged and controled so thatthey can be operated to move in either direction. The conveyors 58 and58A are thus reversably movable for convenience of operation andlocation of specific pieces of art work.

It will therefore be seen that this invention provides a substantiallyself-contained mobile storage and dis play arrangement for merchandisingpictorial art in which potential customers may be comfortablyaccommodated for viewing the selections available in the vehicle, and inwhich the selections may be viewed without removing them from storage.

The vehicle may be readily moved from place to place and thus isespecially adapted for use in rural and other outlying areas where anadequate selection of pictorial art is usually not available to localresidents.

While partitions comparable to partition 34 are desirable from thestandpoint of aesthetics, they can be omitted if so desired.

In the showing of FIGS. 1 l2, panels 48 and 48A are illustrated inlargely block diagram form. FIGS. 13 15 show a modified panelarrangement 300 in accordance with the invention in which the panelcomprises a series of horizontal channel shaped members 302 fixedtogether at their ends, to suitable vertical members 303 (of channel orangle shape), as by welding, in spaced apart relation defining operatingslots 304 therebetween. The bracket structures 104 are suitably appliedto the vertical members 303. Paintings 46 comprise a frame 306 to whichthe painting bearing canvas 308 is secured by affixing same to backboard310, these components being secured together in any suitable manner.

In accordance with this invention the vertical sides 312 of pictureframe 306 each have secured thereto the planar back side 313 thereof amounting strip 314 that has notches 316 formed therein spaced forhorizontal alignment with the respective slots 304 to receive theindented holding end 318 of a holding clip 320 of a set of picturemounting devices 322 applied at each corner of frame 306. Devices 322also include a backing plate 324 applied against the back edges 325 ofthe panel channel member 302 involved, with a piar of screw devices 326extending between plate 324 and the body 328 of clip 320,- through theslot 304 involved, for clamping clip body 328 and plate 324 togetherwith the strip 314 associated therewith, against the panel. Screwdevices 326 each comprise a suitable screw 339 equipped with a wing nut340. When nuts 340 are loosened, devices 322 may be slid longitudinallyof the slots 304 to separate the clips from the frame 306 for removingthe frame from the panel.

Mounting devices 322 may be readily applied to the slots 304 as requiredacross the vertical height of the panel for securing frames 306 ofvarious sizes to the panel 300 and of course, can be removed andreapplied to different slots 304, depending on the location desired onthe panel for a particular frame 312. Frames 306 are secured in place byplacing their strips 314 against the panel and sliding the respectivemounting devices 322 toward them to enter the clip ends in a selected316, and then tightening screw devices 326.

Strips 314 are secured to the frame sides 312 by gluing or by employingsuitable fasteners such as screws or the like (not shown). The rearsides 342 thereof are adapted to have hook eyes or the like appliedthereto by the one who purchases the picture, for the purpose of hangingsame.

The broader aspects of the invention contemplate panels comparable topanels 300 having heights of substantial full vehicle body height andsuspended for convenient hand movement within the vehicle to expose thesides of same bearing the pictorial art for viewing purposes, eitherwith reference to the viewing area 38 or with reference to an aislerunning the length of body 12.

The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to explainand illustrate the invention and the invention is not to be limitedthereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, sincethose skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will beable to make modifications and variations therein without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A vehicle for storing and displaying framed pictorial art foritinerant vending of same utilizing the vehicle, with the vehicleincluding an enclosed wheeled body having front and rear ends and sidesextending between the body ends, door means adjacent the vehicle rearend for providing customer access into the vehicle body when the vehicleis parked for vending of the art, and means for moving the vehiclebetween vending sites, said vehicle body further including:

a partition mounted therein intermediate the body ends and extendingtransversely of said body for subdividing the interior of said body intoa forward body space and a rearward body space that are respectivelyforwardly and rearwardly of said partition,

said body forward space having' positioned in same a plurality ofupright panels extending transversely of the vehicle each includingmeans for removably securing to the side of the same facing rearwardlyof the vehicle framed pictorial art selections to be vended,

endless circuit means mounted in said body forward space for mountingsaid panels to move longitudinally of said body in superposed upper andlower circuit runs extending longitudinally of said body and toconsecutively move vertically between said circuit runs, and for movingsaid panels consecutively along and between said runs and about saidendless circuit means,

said partition being formed to define a viewing Window opening alignedwith the level of the upper run of said panels and proportioned toexpose for viewing purposes from the rearward body space said side ofthe panels of said circuit runs, that is positioned rearwardmost of theupper run,

said rearward body space including means for accommodating persons toview through said window opening the pictorial art selections of said.panel sides that are consecutively displayed through said windowopening by movement of said panels about said circuit means,

with said door means being located to provide said customer access tosaid rearward body space,

said endless circuit means comprising:

a pair of upper trackways extending longitudinally of the vehicle and inopposed horizontally aligned re lation along the respective sides of thevehicle body, and forming the circuit upper run,

a pair of lower trackways extending longitudinally of the vehicle and inopposed horizontally aligned relation along the respective sides of thevehicle body, and forming the circuit lower run,

said trackways each respectively defining opposed terminal ends,

said panels being of similar quadrilateral configuration defining sideedges on either side thereof that are disposed adjacent the respectivebody sides,

said panels at their respective side edges each having a bracket membersecured thereto and including means for supporting the panel between thetrackways of the respective pairs of trackways to dispose said panels insaid circuit runs,

and means for consecutively transferring said panels said means forreleasably securing the art selections to said side of the individualpanels comprising a plurality of securing devices mounted on therespective panels, for random position adjustment horizontally of therespective panels, and in vertically spaced relation along the height ofsaid panels, and including means for releasably clamping the frames ofart selections of diverse sizes to said side of the individual panels inaccordance with the sizes of the art selections to be applied to thepanel,

said window opening being proportioned and being free of obstruction forhand application and hand removal of the art selections to and from theindividual panels from said rearward body space through said windowopening relative to individual panels when at said rearmost positionrelative to said body,

said bracket members of adjacent panels being in separate discreterelation,

said bracket members each including a portion extending longitudinallyof said trackways when said panels are disposed in said circuit runs andterminating at forward and rearward ends,

said bracket portions being received on the respective trackways of therespective trackway pairs when said panels are disposed in said circuitruns and forming said panel supporting means and each including a bumperat either end thereof for engagement with like bumpers of adjacent panelbracket members when disposed in the respective trackways,

said bracket members being secured to their respective panels to suspendsame from the respective trackways in a substantially vertical uprightposition,

said transferring means comprising an elevator apparatus at the ends ofthe respective trackways and including:

means for receiving the bracket members of one of said panels disposedat the ends of the respective trackways,

means for simultaneously and synchronoously vertically moving therespective elevator apparatus between the respective circuit runs foralignment with the trackways thereof,

and means for pushing the panel carried by the elevator apparatus at theforward ends of said circuit runs, when aligned with the circuit upperrun, onto the trackways thereof to advance the panels of said upper runlongitudinally thereof and rearwardly of the vehicle and dispose therearward panel thereof in the elevator apparatus at the rearward ends ofsaid runs at said rearwardmost position, and for pushing suchrearwardmost panel, when said elevator apparatus is aligned with thecircuit lower run, onto the circuit lower run trackways to dispose theforward panel thereof in the elevator apparatus at the forward ends ofsaid runs for elevation of same to the circuit upper run,

said elevator apparatus at the respective ends of said runs eachcomprising:

a separate vertically movable trolley on each side of the vehicle,

said trolleys each carrying a horizontally disposed track elementpositioned for longitudinal alignment with the trackways serviced by therespective trolleys when said vertical moving means is operative toalign the respective trolley track elements with their respectivetrackways,

said trolleys each carrying the respective pushing means thereof.

and means for releasably latching said panels of said runs fromdischarge from the circuit run trackway ends when said track elementsare displaced from vertical alignment therewith.

1. A vehicle for storing and displaying framed pictorial art foritinerant vending of same utilizing the vehicle, with the vehicleincluding an enclosed wheeled body having front and rear ends and sidesextending between the body ends, door means adjacent the vehicle rearend for providing customer access into the vehicle body when the vehicleis parked for vending of the art, and means for moving the vehiclebetween vending sites, said vehicle body further including: a partitionmounted therein intermediate the body ends and extending transversely ofsaid body for subdividing the interior of said body into a forward bodyspace and a rearward body space that are respectively forwardly andrearwardly of said partition, said body forward space having positionedin same a plurality of upright panels extending transversely of thevehicle each including means for removably securing to the side of thesame facing rearwardly of the vehicle framed pictorial art selections tobe vended, endless circuit means mounted in said body forward space formounting said panels to move longitudinally of said body in superposedupper and lower circuit runs extending longitudinally of said body andto consecutively move vertically between said circuit runs, and formoving said panels consecutively along and between said runs and aboutsaid endless circuit means, said partition being formed to define aviewing window opening aligned with the level of the upper run of saidpanels and proportioned to expose for viewing purposes from the rearwardbody space said side of the panels of said circuit runs, that ispositioned rearwardmost of the upper run, said rearward body spaceincluding means for accommodating persons to view through said windowopening the pictorial art selections of said panel sides that areconsecutively displayed through said window opening by movement of saidpanels about said circuit means, with said door means being located toprovide said customer access to said rearward body space, said endlesscircuit means comprising: a pair of upper trackways extendinglongitudinally of the vehicle and in opposed horizontally alignedrelation along the respective sides of the vehicle body, and forming thecircuit upper run, a pair of lower trackways extending longitudinally ofthe vehicle and in opposed horizontally aligned relation along therespective sides of the vehicle body, and forming the circuit lower run,said trackways each respectively defining opposed terminal ends, saidpanels being of similar quadrilateral configuration defining side edgeson either side thereof that are disposed adjacent the respective bodysides, said panels at their respective side edges each having a bracketmember secured thereto and including means for supporting the panelbetween the trackways of the respective pairs of trackways to disposesaid panels in said circuit runs, and means for consecutivelytransferring said panels between said pairs of trackways at the ends ofsame including means for intermittently moving said panelslongitudinally of said trackway pairs in a consecutive manner about saidendless circuit means whereby the individual panels are consecutivelydisposed in said rearmost position relative to said window opening withtime delay between movements for viewing of pictorial art selectionssecured to said side of same by persons accomodated in said rearwardbody space, said means for releasably securing the art selections tosaid side of the individual panels comprising a plurality of securingdevices mounted on the respective panels, for random position adjustmenthorizontally of the respective panels, and in vertically spaced relationalong the height of said panels, and including means for releasablyclamping the frames of art selections of diverse sizes to said side ofthe individual panels in accordance with the sizes of the art selectionsto be applied to the panel, said window opening being proportiOned andbeing free of obstruction for hand application and hand removal of theart selections to and from the individual panels from said rearward bodyspace through said window opening relative to individual panels when atsaid rearmost position relative to said body, said bracket members ofadjacent panels being in separate discrete relation, said bracketmembers each including a portion extending longitudinally of saidtrackways when said panels are disposed in said circuit runs andterminating at forward and rearward ends, said bracket portions beingreceived on the respective trackways of the respective trackway pairswhen said panels are disposed in said circuit runs and forming saidpanel supporting means and each including a bumper at either end thereoffor engagement with like bumpers of adjacent panel bracket members whendisposed in the respective trackways, said bracket members being securedto their respective panels to suspend same from the respective trackwaysin a substantially vertical upright position, said transferring meanscomprising an elevator apparatus at the ends of the respective trackwaysand including: means for receiving the bracket members of one of saidpanels disposed at the ends of the respective trackways, means forsimultaneously and synchronoously vertically moving the respectiveelevator apparatus between the respective circuit runs for alignmentwith the trackways thereof, and means for pushing the panel carried bythe elevator apparatus at the forward ends of said circuit runs, whenaligned with the circuit upper run, onto the trackways thereof toadvance the panels of said upper run longitudinally thereof andrearwardly of the vehicle and dispose the rearward panel thereof in theelevator apparatus at the rearward ends of said runs at saidrearwardmost position, and for pushing such rearwardmost panel, whensaid elevator apparatus is aligned with the circuit lower run, onto thecircuit lower run trackways to dispose the forward panel thereof in theelevator apparatus at the forward ends of said runs for elevation ofsame to the circuit upper run, said elevator apparatus at the respectiveends of said runs each comprising: a separate vertically movable trolleyon each side of the vehicle, said trolleys each carrying a horizontallydisposed track element positioned for longitudinal alignment with thetrackways serviced by the respective trolleys when said vertical movingmeans is operative to align the respective trolley track elements withtheir respective trackways, said trolleys each carrying the respectivepushing means thereof. and means for releasably latching said panels ofsaid runs from discharge from the circuit run trackway ends when saidtrack elements are displaced from vertical alignment therewith.